If the FA appointed you as England manager...

It wouldn't be the biggest mistake they've made would it?

Anyway, what would you change? Who would you kick out of the team? Who would you bring in? Who would be captain? Who would be assistant manager (realistically)? Who would take set pieces? What formation would you play?

What would you do?

i would keep the same team(not that lost .. the strongest normal team if there was no injuries.) .. just make a few tactical changes .. becks captain again ... hes got loads more influence than anyone .. knows the game well ... id train carson as the 1st choice keeper ..

becks obviously the set pieces.... boring 4-4-2 formation and reagan gerrard as my assistant manager .... not many changes .. i just believed that

I think serious changes are needed. The players just don't seem to do the business together.

I'm not sure who i'd have in goal. Probably Green, or James if he isn't doing the business, with Carson as 3rd choice soon to replace James (because he's old) and if he keeps improving, then he could become first choice.

Richards and Cole full backs, with Rio and Terry in the centre. I haven't been impressed with Lescott, so i'd have Campbell as 3rd choice until someone younger proves they are good enough.

Hargreaves defensive midfield, with Gerrard playing as an attacking midfielder. Lampard his direct replacement. Barry would be Hargreaves replacement. I'd rotate between them, so the players in form would be playing. If Gerrard isn't ding the business, then he's out. Simple as that. And i wouldn't be scared of completely dropping players like Lampard if they go on through long bad spells like he has in the past. I'd try out Ashley Young on the left, because i don't think much Joe Cole. He never seems to me to be that effective out on the left for us, so i'd try someone else to see if they can do a better job. I'd stick with Beckham for the time being, but i'd have Wright-Philips and Bentley ready and waiting to replace him. I'd probably rotate the wingers with Wright-Philips anyway, because he deserves to be playing.

Up front Owen, Crouch and Rooney would rotate. I've had enough of Owen and Rooney starting even when they've been awful for England. I'd play whoever is doing the best, and deserves to be playing. I'd also give Bent and Agbonlahor more opportunities to see if he can cut it at International level. Players like Smith, Defoe, Johnson etc. have already proved they can't.

Corners and Free-kicks - Beckham.
Penalties - Hargreaves

Captain - Beckham
2nd choice - Gerrard

By the world cup i'd expect Bentley, Young, Agbonlahor and Green to be playing a big part in the team. Beckham probably won't be good enough by then, and would've been dropped as well, so Bentley, Wright-Philips and Young would be getting a lot of action on the wings for England. I'm sure Agbonlahor would've improved greatly by then as well, and would be a starter for England.

My team would be

GK: Green(West Ham)
RB: Richards(ManC)
CB: Ferdinand(ManU)
CB: Terry(Chelsea)
LB: Cole(Chelsea)
RM: Shaun Wright-Phillips(Chelsea)
CM: Gerrard(Liverpool)
CM: Hargreaves(ManU)
LM: Young(Villa)
ST: Rooney(ManU)
ST: Ashton(West Ham)

Replacements

GK: Carson(Liverpool+Villa)
RB: Neville(ManU)
CB: Dawson(Spurs)
CB: Lescott(Everton)
LB: Baines(Everton)
RM: Lennon(Spurs) or David Bentley(Blackburn)
CM: Lampard(Chelsea)
CM: Johnson(ManC) or Barry(Villa)
LM: Cole(Chelsea)
ST: Owen(Newcastle)
ST: Crouch(Liverpool)
ST: Whichever striker in in form between players like Bent Defoe Johnson Agbonlahor and many others.

Captain: Gerrard
ViceCaptain: Ferdinand

Right Corner taker: Gerrard
Left Corner taker: Gerrard
Freekick: Gerrard
Penalties: Rooney

Two formations theyd play 4-4-2 as basic formation, and a 4-5-1 when defending against quality teams, with Rooney dropping back a bit or moving across onto the left and young moving in slightly.

I believe in giving young players chances, the chance to work in an international set up with top class players and to come up against top class players.

And to sum it up not matter what i did id do a better job than steve mclaren

---------------------------------------------------Robinson-----------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------- Richards-----Terry-----Ferdinand---------------------------------------------
-------------------------Gerrard--------------------------------------------A. Cole----------------------------------

------------------------------------Lampard----- Hargreaves-----J. Cole-------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------Crouch-----Rooney-----------------------------------------------------
Bench:
Carson
L. King
Campbell
G. Neville
Barry
Jimmy Bullard
Beckham
SWP
Walcott
A. Smith


3-5-2.
Not exactly fixed formation, but a little more flexible. Example: Gerard gets the ball on the right, makes a nice run, Ashley Cole slots in at left back, Micah moves over to right, Terry/Ferdinand in the centre. 442.
Maybe Joe Cole might make a run forward, making it a 343 with wingbacks.

Robinson in goal I hear you say?
I've seen Robinson and Carson play for Leeds (Carson not as much) - so very confident in the ability of Robinson. He was picked for England because he was good. He has put in some good peformances for England, just pretty obvious that right now, he needs a confidence boost. Hopefully Ramos at Spurs will be a big help for that.

England have plenty of good central defenders, so make use of it by playing 3 of them.

Gerrard can defend and also attack. He would have a bit more freedom down the right.
Hargreaves as the holding player.

Crouch and Rooney: Little and large.




Assistant Manager: Vinnie Jones. If the players wouldn't listen to me, they would listen to Vinnie.

Captain: Be inclined to take it off Terry. He was captain for the recent campaign, so will have to take responsibility for that. Obviously, he is a born leader and 1st choice in practically any team.
I would choose someone who could play better. MICAH RICHARDS. I mean play better as in: hes 19 now and plays like a 24 year old - give him the armband and he will play like a 30 year old.

If that doesnt happen, I would appoint Rafa Benitez as manager, Micah Richards as captain and watch them win the World Cup 2010.

Hmmm.


-----------------------------------Carson--------------------------------------

Neville-----------------Richards(C)------------Terry------------------------Cole

----------------------------------Hargreaves----------------------------------
-------------------Barry--------------------------------Lampard-------------

-------------------------------------Gerrard----------------------------------
---------------------Rooney--------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------Crouch---------------------

Simple.

------------------------Green-------------------------

-Richards-----R. Ferdinand-----Terry-----A. Cole-

----------------------Hargreaves---------------------
---Wright-Phillips--------------------------J. Cole---
-----------------------Gerrard------------------------

--------------Rooney-----------Owen----------------

Bench.
GK: Carson
RB: Neville
CB: Carragher
CB: Lescott
LB: Baines
CM: Barry
CM: Lampard
RM: Beckham
RM: Lennon
LM: A. Young
LM: Downing
ST: Walcott
ST: Agbonlahor
ST: Ashton

Captain, either Terry or Gerrard.

Refuse

Leave my job in this call centre

...good topic StickyT .

i would have Alan Shearer as assistant manager ..he has experience as a player , is a good talker and is generally respected in the football world .

I would give the captaincy back to David Beckham and obviously play him in the team . He still has the ability to deliver at the highest level and is a good motivator for the team .

The goalkeeper would be Robert Green , no time like the present to start anew and he is a great young keeper .

The others would be ..in no order

Scot Carson
John Terry
Rio Ferdinand
Ashley Cole
Gary Neville
David Bentley
Rooney_79586.shtml'>Wayne Rooney
Michael Owen
Theo Walcott
Owen Hargreaves
Frank Lampard
Steven Gerrard
Ledley King
Andrew Johnson
Peter Crouch
Joe Cole
Sean Wright-Phillips
Micah Richards

i would leave out those who failed against Croatia ...apart from Beckham and Crouch who did their best ...the rest i would tell them they need to reflect on why they play for England and this is a lesson for them ...they can always be replaced ..


team on next match day

Green

Gary Neville.......Rio Ferdinand.......John Terry.......Ashley Cole

David Bentley......David Beckham ......Theo Walcott........Rooney_79586.shtml'>Wayne Rooney

...............Peter Crouch..............Michael Owen

now is a great time to look to the future.

why play neville, beckham, james, carragher and the like?

we need a completely new look team.

i would go for.

Green

Richards
Terry
Ferdinand
Baines

Wright-Phillips
Gerrard (c)
Cole
Young

Crouch
Owen


that team should be capable of some quick, slick passing movement which is what we need, but also with the added dimension of Crouch's height.

its not just the starting 11 or the players that needs looking at, its our whole style of play. its embarassing to watch.


we have no flair, attacking threat or simple ability to beat a man with the ball. we need a complete overhaul.

whilst doing this it brought home even more the lack of genuine quality we have in our ranks.

the sooner we face up to reality the better

that`s hardly a completely new look team though is it ...

Richards , Terry,Ferdinand,Wright-Philips,Gerrard,Cole,Crouch,Owen

all those have been in the England team over the past few months and not exactly done too well .. Steven Gerrard played crap against Croatia yet against Newcastle on saturday he scored and had a great game ...those players need a better manager thats all and a better way of playing .

Apologies if that is what you were trying to say ....

the bold part should answer your points.

the reason for the lack of complete overhaul is simply lack of genuine talent... at the moment.

those players are capable of playing good football, we all know that. which is why many of them would still be in my squad but albeit with a much different style of play, hence J.Cole being in the centre where the ball to feet and pacy wingers and full backs. thats what i would be looking for

Green

Neville Richards Ferdinand Cole

Hargreaves

Wright-Phillips Lampard Cole

Rooney
Crouch

Left out Gerrard for the right balance.At international football you need this.

Good choice...

Hey, if Arteta lives here for another 2 years I think he could play for England. Now imagine having class like him in the squad.

Seems to me the whole coaching set up needs to be changed, although the main problem is kids would rather play on computer games. McClaren has been using the right players, he has been unlucky with injuries, but has been let down by coaching methods, and the players' limited abilities.